Arrangement of camouflage applicable over support towers of telecommunications antennas or similar structure

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of camouflage for support towers of telecommunications antennas or similar structures, including troncoconical, cylindrical, polygonal or similar shaped bodies, attached to the ground through an anchor plate and equipped with an opening in the lower part for the inlet or outlet of cables communicating with an underground conduit. If weatherproof equipment is used, it would be done through an aerial conduit, the bodies being coated with a plastic coating that has on the outside the form of tree bark, secured by adhesive. The support is capable of being formed by parts encased among themselves or welded together, extensions being attached on the upper part on which main artificial branches are attached, and over them, secondary artificial branches and further a body section that is provided with main artificial branches, and over them secondary artificial branches. Antennas attached over suitable supports will be installed on the top section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement of camouflageapplicable over support towers for telecommunications antennas orsimilar structures, the purpose of which lies in managing to camouflage,or at least minimize the body of the tower or similar element, adaptingto the features of the landscape surroundings the tower where it islocated, thus obviating, or at least mitigating the possibleenvironmental impact that the installation of the tower could have onthe surroundings. The arrangement of the camouflage does not in any wayaffect the purpose of the camouflaged or minimized element, that is, itallows transmission and reception of signals from telecommunicationantennas or similar devices, by a camouflage that is permeable for radioelectric waves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There is currently no arrangement applicable to the camouflage ofsupport towers for telecommunication antennas or similar elements.Specifically, in rural stations for telephony and in urban stations forbuilding tops and, generally, for a telecommunications station orfacility that supports antennas it is not known to camouflage suchstructures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention has its application in the industry devoted to themanufacture of support towers of telecommunication antennas, or similarelements, for coupling to the structure ornamental elements that, afterthey are attached, adapt the final structure to the landscapesurroundings where the tower or similar device to be camouflaged isfound.

[0004] The arrangement of camouflage applicable over support towers fortelecommunication antennas, or similar elements that the inventionproposes manages to mitigate the possible environmental impact thatthese elements cause in many of the points where they are located.

[0005] More specifically, the arrangement of camouflage applicable oversupport towers for telecommunication antennas or similar structure thatis the object of the invention is made up based on the use of metalelements with circular or polygonal cross-section, forming prismatic,troncoconical or tronco-pyramidal hollow elements with littlediminution, this type of hollow vertical support being used when it isattempted to configure camouflage over an antenna located at a certainheight from the ground or base, other elements adaptable to theenvironment and to the structure of the element to be hidden being used.

[0006] In the most general case, the metal pole, preferably of steel,divided into several sections that are joined together, is used untilthe desired height is attained. The pole is coated on the outside with amaterial made of composites, resins, elastomers or similar materials,resistant to UV rays and to inclement weather, and aesthetically havingthe configuration of bark consistent with the plant variety that mayexist in the surroundings. In order to achieve the most realisticconfiguration, main and secondary branches, knots and other surfacetextures similar to tree bark, are used.

[0007] In the last section or upper part of the hollow vertical supportpole, anchors or small projections are added that serve to lodge orinstall the main branches. Over the main branches are placed thesecondary branches, to which are attached bundles of needles or leavesthat give a final form of the top of a tree.

[0008] The integral use of plastic materials or fiberglass or similarmaterials ensures absolute radio electric transparency.

[0009] The antennas themselves are attached at the upper part in a smallcentral sphere of steel or on special arms made of steel/zinc or similarmaterial and varnished with the same color as the branches, ensuring thearrangement of camouflage of the elements and radiant elements.

[0010] The RF cables come down through the inside of the artificial“trunk” of the pole, being connected to a cable used as a guide throughclamps.

[0011] At the base, an outlet for the cables is provided through anopening made at the base of the trunk. The cable outlet may be buried orbe at a small height above the ground if the cable connection is donewhen weatherproof equipment is installed.

[0012] In order to attach the body of the artificial tree, a die ofburied reinforced concrete is used. Anchoring of the pole is donethrough bolts embedded in the concrete die. Additional cabling passesthrough an underground conduit for the outlet of service cables andfeeders or else without the conduit when weatherproof equipment isinstalled.

[0013] The installation of the prefabricated trunk is not differentiatedfrom the installation of a normal polygonal pole in its insertion, itbeing necessary to indicate that the top section is attached to the restof the tree like another section, that is, through mounting on top ofthe lower section.

[0014] The complete installation is easy, fast and does not requirespecial or specialized personal equipment. Access to the top part isassured through use of a hydraulic basket or crane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to complement the description that is being given andfor the purpose of helping to better understand the features of theinvention, attached to this descriptive report, as an integral partthereof, is a set of drawings in which, by way of illustration, withoutlimitation, the following is shown:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the metal tower body applicablefor construction of the object of the invention relative to aarrangement of camouflage over support towers for telecommunicationantennas or similar devices that, in this specific case, takes on theform of a troncoconical body with little diminution.

[0017]FIG. 2A is a plan view of the cross-section taken along the line2A-2A of the object shown in figure number 1, in this case being acylindrical support.

[0018]FIG. 2B is a plan view of the cross-section of the tower shown inFIG. 1, in the polygonal embodiment, regardless of the number of sidesthat make it up.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tower shown in FIG. 1, onwhich there is applied an elastomer or a coating or covering of plastic,rubber, composite material, etc. that simulates the bark of the trunk ofa tree, manufactured in fiber glass and plastic resins. In thisgraphical representation, tubes have been added that will serve toattach the main branches, the upper part of the metal support being leftfree for subsequent installation of the top or upper section of theartificial tree.

[0020]FIG. 4A is a cross-section taken along line 4A-4A of the towershown in FIG. 3, with the coating of the base tube shown.

[0021]FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the area encircled in FIG. 4A,illustrating the seam of the coating.

[0022]FIG. 5A is an exploded view of two sections making up a towerhaving main and secondary artificial branches, with attaching elementsfor the main and secondary branches.

[0023]FIG. 5B is an enlarged exploded view of the anchoring of main andsecondary branches to a sidewall of a tower section.

[0024]FIG. 6 illustrates an assembled communications tower with thecamouflage elements of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 7 illustrates, in enlarged form, the installation in theground of the tower shown in figure number 6, which, as can be seen, isdone over a reinforced concrete die, where the anchor bolts that serveto attach the anchor plate of the object making up the vertical supportare embedded. It also being possible to see the conduit for the cableshave underground access to the equipment booth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] From FIG. 1, it can be seen how the arrangement of camouflageapplicable over support towers for telecommunication antennas or similarstructures is made up based on a hollow vertical support tower (1)preferably made of steel, that can have the troncoconical configuration(2), with little diminution, or else a cylindrical shape (2′) as shownin FIG. 2A or a polygonal shape (2″) as shown in figure number 2B.

[0027] Continuing with FIG. 1, over the body (2), there are weldedanchors (3) that project out of an upper part of the body (2), or else(with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B) from the bodies (2′) or (2″). Thepurpose of these anchors (3) is to attach the main artificial branches(6) and (6′), and over these, the secondary artificial branches whichare provided with bundles of needles or leaves (6″), as shown in FIGS.5A and 5B.

[0028] Following FIG. 3, it can be seen that over the troncoconical body(2), (or with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B) cylindrical body (2′), orpolygonal body (2″), there is incorporated a coating or cover (4) offiber glass and epoxy or any other suitable plastic material whichsimulates the bark of a trunk of a tree. The particular bark used isdependent on the particular plant species in the area, or as close tothese as possible. A longitudinal union line or seam (8), is shown indetail in FIG. 4B.

[0029] The troncoconical body (2), cylindrical body (2′), or polygonalbody (2″) has an attachment base (5), leaving free the upper end of thebodies (2), (2′), or (2″), to subsequently be used, as will be describedbelow.

[0030] The coating or covering (4) of fiber glass and plastic resinjoined at union line (8) is secured by adhesives, appropriate attachmentmeans or any other form deemed suitable. The coating (4) that simulatesthe bark of a tree is fire-proof, resistant to atmospheric phenomena,and even UV rays, and, of course, has a radio electric transparencysuitable to prevent signal emissions or receptions from being difficult.A similar, though not identical coating, made be made through theprojection of elastomers that can give a surface aspect similar to treebark.

[0031] The poles, supports or towers (2), (2′), or (2″), are preferablybe made of galvanized steel and made up of multiple sections that arejoined to each other by encasement or any other means consideredsuitable. A desired overall height can thereby be obtained. In the upperpart of each tower will be support means for the antennas, configured asgalvanized steel spheres and varnished with a color similar to that ofthe branches of the trees. Also, other elements that support theantennas may be incorporated into the tower structure. These metal postsor supports are made of galvanized steel and have the pertinentcorrosion protection.

[0032] As can be seen in FIG. 5, after installation of the towers (2),(2′), or (2″), an additional section (7) that makes up the top of the“tree” is mounted on the upper part of the tower. The welded elementanchors (3) used to attach the main artificial branches (6) are includedin the artificial top section (7). Main branches (6) and (6′), will beattached to the anchors (3) and additional secondary branches (6″) areincorporated, making up the tree top.

[0033] In FIG. 6, the antennaes (40) are shown attached to the tree topsection (7) through support bodies configured as a small steel centralplate 20 or special arms 22 made of steel/zinc or similar material andvarnished. The antennas (40), if so required, are matched in color withthe color of the branches (6), (6′), or (6″).

[0034] Finally, in FIG. 7, it is seen that the tower (2) (2′), or (2″)is attached to the ground (13) through a reinforced concrete die (14),in which are embedded some anchor bolts. The mounting plate (5) issecured by the anchor bolts. Fill (11) is used to cover an undergroundconduit (12) leading up to the booth for the cable equipment in thetower. The vertical tower (2), (2′), or (2″) includes an inlet or outlet(10) for the cables in the lower part of the tower to be able to channelthe cables that go from the antennas (40) up to the equipment booth (notshown).

[0035] In FIG. 6 is seen that the tower (2), (2′), or (2″) is attachedto the ground (13) through a reinforced concrete die (14) in which thereare some anchor bolts. The anchor plate (5) is secured by the anchorbolts and covered by fill (11). The tower (2), (2′), or (2″) has a cableinlet or outlet (10) at its lower part in order to be able to channelthe cables that run from the antennaes (40) up to weatherproofequipment. This arrangement is capable of being used if the equipment isweatherproof, by using an aerial conduit (15).

[0036] It is not deemed necessary to make this description moreextensive for one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the scopeof the invention and the advantages derived therefrom. The materials,form, size and arrangement of the elements will be capable of beingvaried, provided it does not involve an alteration to the essentialnature of the invention. The terms in which this invention has beendescribed shall always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense.

We claim:
 1. A support for telecommunication antennas, said supportcomprising a hollow tower having anchors on an upper part projectingfrom the tower for attaching artificial branches to the tower, the towerbeing covered on an exterior surface with a coating providing anappearance of artificial bark of a tree trunk, the coating beingfireproof and being joined by a longitudinal seam to the tower, thetower including at least one section for stacking of at least twosections of support antennaes.
 2. The support according to claim 1 ,wherein the tower is one of cylindrical and polygonal in shape and madeof galvanized steel.
 3. The support according to claim 1 , wherein asecond tower section is mounted on the upper part of the tower and thesecond tower section includes attachment elements for artificialbranches.
 4. The support according to claim 3 , wherein antennas aremounted on the tower by a central steel plate.
 5. The support of claim 3, wherein antennas are mounted on the tower by arms.
 6. The supportaccording to claim 1 , wherein the tower is attached to the ground by ananchor plate located over a reinforced foundation with fill materiallocated at a lower area of the tower, the tower having an inlet for theinlet or outlet of antenna cables.